20170425

NIA DG Tells VP Osinbajo: NSA Knew About The Billions

Members of the Presidential Investigative Committee probing the recovery of $43.4m at Osborne Towers in Ikoyi, Lagos sat yesterday for more than 11 hours.

They examined documents and interrogated some officials at the marathon session.

Grilled were the suspended Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Amb. Ayo Oke, and some top officials of the agency.

One of the highlights of the session was when the suspended NIA DG told the panel that he wrote a memo to the National Security Adviser (NSA) on the custody of the $43.4million for covert operations.

A source said the DG maintained his stand that he told the NSA, Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno, who is a member of the committee, about the money.

Oke was said to have told the committee about the covert operations and projects executed.

Responding to a question, the source, who pleaded not to be named, added: “Oke gave a spirited defence of his career and said there was no ill-motive behind the cash. At the end of it all, Oke was heard saying ‘I did my best before the committee. I have left the rest to God.”

The recommendation of the panel will determine the next step by the EFCC.